Political opposition is not tolerated in Uzbekistan. The media is not free. The UN says torture is "systematic".

Nevertheless, after the attacks of 11 September 2001, Uzbekistan was placed firmly on the map as a US ally.

The Uzbek government made its airspace and military facilities available to US forces, facilitating the operation to remove the Taleban in neighbouring Afghanistan.

Uzbekistan has since become an important strategic outpost for the United States.

Extremism

President Bush has noticeably left Uzbekistan out of speeches condemning repressive regimes.

There is talk of reducing financial assistance to Uzbekistan but, so far, little real action.

Western analysts believe that, whatever the relationship between events in Uzbekistan and the wider threat of Islamist organisations, economic discontent and repression mean that Uzbekistan has become a breeding ground for political extremism.

Uzbekistan's allies will now be hoping that the country's government does not use the current unrest to launch an even harsher crackdown on dissent.